Health Economics And Policy International Edition 4th Edition BY James W. Henderson – Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The most recent studies of lifetime medical costs of treating AIDS
a. have shown a significant increase in the estimates due to earlier diagnosis.
b. have shown a significant increase due to the use of new drugs including protease inhibitors.
c. have been revised downward due to shorter and less frequent hospital stays.
d. conclude that costs will likely fall in the future die to breakthrough research in prevention.
e. all of the above.
ANS: C

2. Cocaine
a. is largely non-addictive and harmless.
b. presents only a minor risk of heart attach and stroke.
c. use among pregnant women may be as high as 10 percent.
d. exposure for infants in utero is of minor medical consequence.
e. use is easy to detect from routine tests for up to 30 days after use.
ANS: C

3. According to the National Center for Health Statistics
a. smoking prevalence in the U.S. is declining among both males and females.
b. over 500,000 deaths annually may be attributed to alcohol- and smoking-related illnesses.
c. smoking prevalence among 18-24 year olds is rising.
d. over 20 percent of females and 25 percent of males are regular smokers. ]
e. all of the above are true.
ANS: E

4. An increase in the excise tax on alcohol
a. will have no effect on alcohol consumption.
b. will generate minimal tax revenues for the federal government.
c. coupled with a uniform drinking age nationwide would save lives.
d. will generate substantial revenues is demand is elastic.
e. all of the above.
ANS: C

5. The economic argument for legalizing drugs
a. is morally bankrupt.
b. is based on the assumption that demand is relatively price inelastic.
c. shows that economists are all libertarians at heart.
d. takes into consideration all the externalities associated with drug use.
e. is really politically motivated.
ANS: B

6. Which of the following is not a true statement concerning infant mortality in the United States?
a. Low birth weight infants have a better chance of survival in the U.S. than either Japan or Norway.
b. International comparisons of infant mortality rates are difficult to interpret due to different definitions of infant death.
c. Teenage pregnancy and illegitimacy are highly correlated with infant mortality.
d. Infant mortality rates are among the lowest in the developed world.
e. A primary cause of infant mortality is low birth weight.
ANS: D

7. Which of the following is true about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States?
a. STDs are a relatively minor problem in the United States because of the widespread use of condoms.
b. Over 56 million Americans have an incurable STD.
c. The rate of infection from STDs among teenagers is falling due to condom use.
d. Except for the common cold and the flu, STDs are the most common disease in North America.
e. Both b and d are true.
ANS: E

8. In 1995, _____ percent of the U.S. population was over the age of 65. By the year 2020, projections place that percentage at _____.
a. 8, 16
b. 10, 20
c. 12, 16
d. 15, 25
e. 18, 30
ANS: C

9. An elderly person between the ages of 75 and 79 spends _____ times as much on health care as a person less than age 19.
a. 2.
b. 4.
c. 5.
d. 7.
e. 10.
ANS: D

10. High medical care spending on the elderly is due primarily to
a. the provision of unnecessary care.
b. the treatment of terminal illnesses.
c. the increased use of expensive technology at the end of life.
d. the treatment of chronic illnesses that affect the elderly.
e. the fact that the costly end-of-life care is more likely to occur beyond age 65.
ANS: E